Faced with concerns, Macron cautious about post-Covid reforms

Faced with the “concerns” of the French people affected by the epidemic, Emmanuel Macron ruled out Thursday a resumption “as is” of the pension reform, even if he wants to take “difficult decisions” to come out on top of the Covid crisis. “I cannot manage the gently sloping summer”, warned the Head of State during a three-hour meeting with quiet retirees in the medieval city of Martel (Lot).

“I will have to make decisions, some on the revival, others difficult” so that the last year of the quinquennium is “a useful year”, he added. In a good-natured atmosphere, Emmanuel Macron was questioned on immigration, vaccination, medical deserts or the fate of “eternal France” during these two days, briefly disturbed by two or three invectives on unemployment or police violence on an air of “yellow vests”.

Understand the state of mind of the country

He intends to continue his meetings during a dozen trips in June-July, before deciding on key choices for the rest of the five-year term. While staunchly defending his principles from the start of the five-year term, such as the value of work, the metaphor of the “first on the rop” or the abolition of the ISF, the Head of State said he wanted first to understand the state of spirit of the country before deciding on new far-reaching reforms. Starting with that of pensions.

“I do not think that the reform which was initially envisaged can be taken again as it is,” he told the press. “It was very ambitious, extremely complex and, suddenly, a source of concern”, but we must “take into account” these “fears” and the context created by the health crisis. “It is too early” according to him to say.

This reform is however “essential”, reacted the deputy LR Eric Woerth, by calling to “start again from 0”, in particular by assuming “the increase of the age” of the retirement. Emmanuel Macron made an equally cautious response to his possible candidacy for a second term in 2022. “It is too early to tell,” he said during his meeting with retirees.

Dropping the jacket, the Head of State swept with his interlocutors all current affairs – from youth to ecology through vaccination, immigration and “cancel culture”. An exercise reminiscent of the “Great Debate” initiated in 2019 to get out of the “yellow vests” crisis.

“I was told” the President of the rich “, I don’t care”

“We must take the pulse of the country even when we are not in the campaign”, justified the president, responding to the criticisms of certain opponents who accuse him of having entered “in election mode” with the approach of the regional ones and to less than a year of the presidential election. “He’s in the countryside. The only difference between him and me is that I am in the countryside while respecting the campaign accounts, he is not, ”denounced Marine Le Pen, declared candidate for the Elysee Palace, during a trip to Saint-Chamond ( Loire).

With accents of 2017, he again defended his choice not to raise taxes for the richest. “Can we massively hit the big (taxpayers), idea that we love here?” We can do it, but the big guys are leaving! “, He launched to a retiree protestor” I was told “the President of the rich”, I do not care “.

As for the universal youth guarantee, a project in the pipeline, he said he wanted to help young people in training but categorically rejected “the idea that we give money without conditions”. A response to the left’s proposals for an RSA for 18-25 year olds. On immigration, he pleaded for a “more ambitious integration policy” but noted: “would we make construction, catering or agriculture work if we had zero immigrants”?

He ended by igniting against “cancel culture”, according to him “a drama” and to which he opposes “a policy of recognition”. But Emmanuel Macron also admitted to worrying about a society “more and more violent”. To respond to the feeling of insecurity of the French, he advocated a response of public policy but also “of value in terms of civilization and culture”.